Aqua Fitness for Lipedema & Lymphedema

Let’s talk #aquafitness for #lipedema and #lymphedema 

I get asked what is the best exercise we can do, and one of my top answers (if you have access to a pool) is Aqua Fitness.

WHY? 

Muscle Movement

+ Water Resistance

= Lymphatic Stimulation 

It is a win win! The resistance of the water helps work our muscles, and the movement and graduated compression of the water helps our lymphatics.

In 2020 I wrote a blog post about how to calculate water pressure to figure out the level of compression I was getting in the pool, since so many of us need to wear compression I was curious and could not find any answers online. 

These calculations give us an idea of how much compression our body feels at various depth in the pool, but it is not a replacement for wearing compression.

When you get out of the pool it is necessary to get back into your compression. 

And a heads up, as you climb out of the pool you may notice your legs feel extra heavy, don’t worry, that is normal. Our bodies have to readjust to dealing with full gravity again, and this makes already heavy legs feel even heavier.

I took the typical questions I get asked and turned them into this graphic. 

But one thing I like to add is the pool can be very beneficial to our emotional fitness, too. Shown to lower anxiety and depression.

I know when I get into the water my whole body feels like it exhales - with a deep sigh. 

You feel supported and can let go of everything you are holding on to, physically and emotionally.

This is what makes it such a great option for us ♥️

My old aqua aerobics class played music during class, it was so much fun, and doing line dancing moves is another favorite of mine. Love the football agility drills like karaoke and grapevine or tire drills- pretty much any way you move in the pool is good!

Just remember if you deal with any #hypermobility it can be really easy to twist something, we can do so much more physically in the pool than we can do on dry land that we can easily overdo it, so be careful. 

So many options, so little time, what is your favorite aqua fitness movement?

#lipedemafitness #lipedemalife #lipedemawarrior #lipedemamermaid